Your first few days on campus will be busy with unpacking, setting up your room and attending orientation sessions. We recommend you spend a few minutes before moving in to discuss the following information with your new roommate. During the first week of classes, your Resident Assistant (RA) will give you and your roommate a Roommate Contract. The Roommate Contract helps you and your roommate better understand each other, set rules, and avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. We encourage you to work together to lay the foundation for a successful relationship.

Contact Your Roommate Before Move-in Day

Housing assignment letters are sent out in mid-July. Once you receive your housing assignment letter, call or write to your roommate. This will give you an opportunity to get to know each other before the two of you live together. It is very important to remember not to judge your roommate based on your first contact with them. We recommend you discuss with each other what each of you plans to bring. This will ensure that your room doesn't have duplicate items that could easily be shared, such as a TV and furniture. 

Stay Calm

Naturally, you'll feel a little nervous. Remember to be patient with each other. Any anxiety will go away as you and your roommate get to know each other better.

Speak TO, Not ABOUT Each Other

If a problem arises, it is very important that you and your roommate speak openly and honestly about it. As soon as you have a problem, discuss it with your roommate. It is very important not to talk badly about your roommate to others. Make an effort to consider your roommate's point of view.

Have Realistic Expectations

It isn't very common for roommates to become best friends. We recommend you take this opportunity that being in college affords to develop friendships with other students while building a good relationship with your roommate. 

Learn From One Another

Having a roommate is a great learning experience. You could very well be living with someone whose appearance, tastes, ideas, childhood, family, culture, religion, and values are very different from your own. This is your opportunity to see the world from a new perspective. 

Resolving Issues

Conflicts and misunderstandings may occur between roommates. We strongly recommend that students work together to resolve conflicts or misunderstandings. While parents may feel the need to intervene, it is important to allow the students to work out the conflict as the ability to do so will help students in the professional world long after graduation. If roommates cannot reach a mutually satisfactory resolution to a disagreement after talking to each other, your RA is trained and ready to assist. Your RA can pull out your Roommate Contract and help you and your roommate work through any issues to make your living environment better.